California homeowners who fail to clear their property of dry grass and excess fire fuel face citations and fines, as the state works to control the threat during an already busy fire season.

As Cal Fire urges property owners in the foothills to create more defensible space around their homes, teams of inspectors have gone door to door in rural communities, looking for hazards. State laws allow for fines up to $500.

"The fine is very small compared to losing your home," Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

The intent is not to be punitive, Berlant said, stressing the fines are only assessed once it becomes clear a property owner is unwilling to cooperate.

In 2014, Cal Fire conducted more than 200,000 property inspections. They resulted in approximately 20,000 violations (some individuals committed multiple violations at once) and about 2,500 citations and fines.

"Not only are you putting your neighbors at risk and yourself at risk, but you could be held responsible for the suppression cost of that wildfire," Berlant said.

State law gives Cal Fire the authority to pursue civil action against people whose negligence contributes to a wildfire, Berlant said.

Each year, about 350 to 400 cases are pending in civil court valued at millions of dollars, Berlant said.

Last month, a grass fire in Fair Oaks raced toward condos in a neighborhood known as The Bluffs. The fire was stopped before it could damage any homes.

Homeowner Terry Leveille credited the HOA's commitment to creating a buffer around the property.

"It was a godsend that we had been so committed to keeping the empty space there," Leveille said.